Rotary gas-motor.



PATENTED SEPT. 1'7, 1907.

J. r. HIGBEB.

ROTARY GAS MOTOR. APPLIOA'I'ION FILED 0011.13; 1906.

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IJYVENTOR (Ii/W Zgfiea Altdrney WITNESSES N0. 866,466. TATENTED SEPT.17, 1907.

J. r. HIGBEE. ROTARY G'AS MOTOR.

APPLIOATIOR FILED 001213, 1906.

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PATEHTED SEPT. 17, 1-907.

J. P. HIGBEE.

ROTARY GAS MOTOR. APPLICATION FILED 001213.1906.

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0 bodily ma 2 M B V v I w Y 4% I A/torney 11 Nomus PETERS c PATENTOFFICE.

JAMES F. HIGBEE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ROTARY GAS-MOTOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. HIGBEE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented new and useful Improvements in'Rotary Gas-Motors, of whichthe following is a specification.

, This invention relates to rotary gas engines or motors, the object ofthe invention being to provide a simple, compact and efficient engine ofthe class de scribed, in which provision is made for introducing andexhausting the explosive mixture and products of combustion by apositive valve movement, compressing the charge upon its introduction tothe ex- 'plosion chamber and forcing out the consumed gases.

With the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will morefully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a rotarygas engine embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection through the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through theengine. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the piston ringsor blades. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the collar which carries theplatinum contact point.

The engine contemplated in this invention comprises essentially acylinder 1 within which 1s mounted a rotary piston 2. This piston isinthe form of a true cylinder and is provided at diametrically oppositepoints with radially disposed wings or blades 3 which are seated incorresponding recesses extending inward from the periphery of thepiston, said wings or blades being forced outward by means of springs 4arranged in the recesses and operating in rear of the wings, as shown inFig. 2, to force said wings outward beyond the periphery of the pistonagainst the inner peripheral wall of the cylinder. At a point midwaybetween the wings or blades 3 there is arranged an intermediate wing orblade 5 corresponding in construction and arrangement with the wings 3and forced outward by a spring 4 in the same manner, the outer edges ofall the wings or blades being adapted to follow closely and ride incontact with the inner periphery of the cylinder. The pis ton 2 ismounted upon the main shaft 6 which extends through and is journaled inbearings in the oppositely 7 arranged heads 7 of the cylinder, the heads7 being secured to the body of the cylinder by means of bolts 8 andsuitable packing rings (not shown) being interposed between the headsand the body of the cylinder to prevent leakage.

In the bottom portion of the cylinder, an explosion chamber 9 isprovided, the initial or front portion of said chamber being of lesssize and capacity than the rear or final portion thereof, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2,

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 13,1906. ISerial No. 338,846.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

9 designating the initial portion, and 10, the final portion of saidchamber, the final portion being enlarged so as to relieve the pressureand enable the intermediate wing or blade 5 to force the consumed gasesonward to the exhaust chamber hereinafter described. The piston isfurther provided with an L-shaped' fuel feed passage ll'open at bothends and adapted to communicate with the explosion chamber, as shown inFig. 2. I

At one side of the cylinder, there is arrangeda vapor or air inlet valvecasing 12 which communicates with a small inlet chamber 13 having a port14 leading into the cylinder. provided with a perforated diaphragm orvalve seat 15, in connection with which the vapor or air inlet valve 16operates, said valve 16 being provided with a stem 17 having a nut orcollar 18 thereon and also provided with a spring 19 which is interposedbetween the nut or collar 18 and the valve seat 15 for holding the valvenormally seated. The inner end of the valve" casing 12 is also providedwith a ported wall or diaphragm 20 against which is seated a check valve21, the stem of which extends into the valve chamber and is providedwith a nut or collar 22 between which and the valve seat is arranged aspring 23 which holds the valve 21 normally seated.

Interposed between the inner ends of the stems of the inlet valve 16 andthe check valve 21 is a cam shaft 24, the .cam 25 of which operates onthe stems of said valves to unseat the latter with a positive action.The cam shaft 24 extends laterally outward through the sides of thecasing, where it is equipped with a cam lever 26, as shown in Fig. 1.Said cam lever is pivotally connected at 27 to one arm 28 of a yokeprovided about centrally with an eccentric strap 29 which extends arounda cam or eccentric 30 fast on the main shaft 6 of the engine or motorwhereby, in the rotation of said,

shaft, the camor eccentric 25 acts once in each revolution to unseat thevalves 16 and 21 just hereinabove described, for admitting air or vaporto the cylinder at the proper time.

At the opposite side of the cylinder is an exhaust valve casing 31containing an exhaust chamber 32 from which leads an exhaust pipe 33.Leading from the exhaust chamber 32 inward is a valve chamber in whichis located a valve seat 34 embodying a perforated diaphragm or wall 35against the inner end of which is seated an exhaust valve 36, the stem37 of which extends outward and is provided with a nut or collar 38between which and the wall or diaphragm 35, is arranged a spiral spring39 which holds the exhaust valve .normally seated, as shown in Fig. 2.

In line with the outer end of the valve stem 37 is a cam shaft 40provided with a cam 41 which operates against the stem-37 to unseat thevalve at the proper time to allow for the exhaust of the consumed gasesfrom strap 29.

the explosion chamber into the exhaust chamber and thence out throughthe exhaust pipe 33. The cam shaft 40 extends laterally outward throughthe casing 31 and outside thereof it is provided with a cam lever 42which is pivotally connected at 4:3 to the other arm 4 of the yoke whichcarries the centrally arranged eccentric Thus, in each revolution of themain shaft 6, the yoke is oscillated to impart motion to the cam shafts24 and 40, whereby said valves are opened and closed positively, so asto provide at the proper intervals for the admission of air or vapor andthe discharge of the consumed gases.

In one side, the cylinder is provided with a spark plug opening 45 inwhich is seated a spark plug 46, the inner end of said opening 45forming an ignition chainb'erwhich leads directly into the explosionchamber of the engine, as shown in Fig. 2.

On one end of the main shaft 6 there is arranged a iixed 0011a- 47 whichcarries a platinum point 48 extending transversely through an opening insaid collar near the periphery thereof, as shown in Fig. 3, saidplatinum point being adapted, once in' each revolution of the shaft 6,to come in contact with a spring-sustained contact plug or shoe 49seated in a recess 50 in one of the heads of the cylinder and pressedoutward into contact with the rotating collar 47 by means of the spring51 said collar 47 having a ring portion 52 which lies in contact withthe outer face of said collar and against which the platinum point 48bears and rides. The shoe 49 and the contact point .48 are wired to abattery or dynamo (not shown) and to the spark plug 46, so that in eachrevolution of the piston, and at the proper moment, a spark is generatedin the ignition chamber 45, which causes the explosion of the gas undercompression in the initial portion of the explosion chamber behind oneof the wings or blades carried by the piston, the piston thus beingdriven and communicating motion to a suitable fly wheel 53, power beingtransmitted from the shaft 6 to any suitable point.

Upon the top of the cylinder is mounted an oil tank 54 provided with afilling plug 55 and a glass gage 56 for visually indicating the oillevel therein, said tank being provided with the downwardly extendingnipple 57 which communicates with an oil inlet port 58 leading directlyinto the top of the cylinder so as to deliver the oil to and against theperiphery of the piston 2, whence it is carried around past the entranceof the air inlet valve, thus obtaining the necessary mixture of oil andair and delivering said mixture to the explosion chamber.

The cylinder is water jacketed, as shown at 59, and Water inlet andoutlet connections 60 and 61 respectively, communicate with such waterjacket and provide for a continuous circulation of water to keep thecylinder and working parts of the engine cool. It will, of course, beunderstood that air may be circulated through the jacket of the enginein place of water by the same means and connections hereinabovedescribed.

In order to prevent the discharge from passing back ward around the sideedges of the piston blades or wings 3 and 5, the side edges of saidwings are grooved, as shown at 62, and in said grooves are placedpacking strips 63 of any suitable material which ride inclose contactwith the inner surface of the cylinder heads.

on the exhaust side serves as a suction device.

The fuel from the oil inlet port 58 is received in the fuel passage 11in the piston, and conveyed therethrough to the explosion chamber ateach revolution of the piston.

The air and gas are compressed within the sparking chamber 9 by means ofthe blade 5, while the blade 3 When power blade 3reaches the positionoccupied by the blade 5 in Fig. 2, the gas is ignited, the exhaust valve36 opening at that time and remaining open until the piston makesthree-fourths of a revolution.

I claim:

1. A rotary gas engine comprising a cylinder having an inlet opening, anexplosion chamber having the final portion thereof relatively enlarged,and a rotary piston therein provided with spring actuated Wings orblades, and a fuel feed passage extending through the piston and openingout at different points in the periphery thereof at opposite sides ofone of the wings or blades.

2. A rotary gas engine comprising a cylinder having an eccentricallydisposed explosion chamber, inlet and exhaust valves communicating atopposite points therewith, means for imparting positive movement to saidvalves once in each revolution of the main shaft, and a rotary pistonprovided with an L-shaped feed passage and mount ed on said shaft andprovided with spring actuated wings or blades adapted to follow theinner contour of the cylinder and the explosion chamber.

3. A rotary gas engine comprising a cylinder having an eccentricallydisposed explosion chamber, inlet and exhaust valves communicatingtherewith at opposite points, means for imparting positive movement tosaid valves in each revolution of the engine, a main shaft, rotarypiston mounted on said shaft and carrying spring actuated Wings orblades; and a fuel feed passage extending through the piston and havingangular-1y disposed terminal portions which open out through theperiphery of the piston at opposite sides of one or more of the wings orblades.

4. A rotary gas engine comprising a cylinder embodying an explosionchamber, a rotary shaft, a piston provided with an L-shaped fpel feedpassage and mounted on said rotary shaft and carrying radially movablewings or blades, inlet and exhaust valves communicating with saidexplosion chamber, spring sustained stems for holding said valvesnormally seated, cam shafts carrying cams operating against said valvestems, and a yoke actuated by the main shaft and coupled to said camshafts, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A rotary gas engine comprising a cylinder embodying an explosionchamber, a rotary main shaft, a piston pro= vided with an L-shaped fuelfeed passage and mounted on said shaft and carrying radially movableWings, inlet and check valves communicating with one end of theexplosion chamber. an exhaust valve communicating with the other end ofthe explosion chamber, and a yoke actuated by the main shaft andoperatively connected with each and all of said valves, whereby thelatter are unseated with a positive action during each revolution of theshaft.

6. A gas engine comprising a cylinder embodying an explosion chamber, arotary shaft, a piston provided with an L-shaped fuel feed passage andmounted on said shaft and carrying radially movable wings or blades, anair inlet valve communicating with one end of said chamber, an exhaustvalve communicating with the other end of said chamber, an oil supplyleading into the cylinder at a point in advance of the air inlet, and ayoke actuated by the main shaft and operatively connected with saidvalves for unseating the latter with a positive movement during eachrotation of the main shaft.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. HIGBEE.

